Services

Home Inspection / Pre-Sale Inspection / Maintenance Inspection
WDI / Septic Dye Test / Radon / Condominiums / Large Homes / Finial Promise
Home Inspection: A home inspection is a visual inspection of a home and its components. Though some tools are used to aid an inspector evaluate a home, a report is based upon what an inspector can see. All inspections meet or exceed the standards of practice established by the American Society of Home Inspectors.
 
A home inspection is a non-evasive. This means an inspector will not destroy anything or do major disassembly of any home system. However, access panels and doors are routinely uncovered. A home inspection will not include areas that are hidden from view like interior walls or some plumbing components.
 
A typical home inspection takes about two and a half hours, with an additional hour of reporting time.
 
Pre-sale inspections: A pre-sale inspection is an opportunity for a seller to find hidden problems with their home before a buyers inspector finds them. Not only can last minute problems be deal killers, but they can label a house as unsellable.
 
Fixing problems before a sale can be more economical. Repair technicians and contractors can charge more for sudden repairs done under a closing-date deadline. Additionally, some buyers may insist upon total replacement for a dysfunctional system. Whether it needs it or not. An inexpensive, but proper system repair before listing can help avoid last minute buyer demands.
 
A typical pre-sale inspection takes about two and a half hours with an additional half an hour reporting time.
 
Maintenance Inspection: A maintenance inspection is treated and priced the same as a pre-sale inspection, but is something different. ASHI recommends every home be inspected every five years. Wether or not it is being sold.
 
Home inspectors - not just the ones at Finial - find many problems related to a home owners lack of upkeep in a home. In todays modern nothing-ever-stops society, many people just don't get around to properly maintaining their homes.
 
A maintenance inspection helps home owners locate and react to potential problems with their homes in a timely manor.
Wood destroying insects: (WDI) This is an additional service, and is often required by many lenders. Wood destroying insects are any insect that eats your home. Termites and wood boring ants are the most common in Pennsylvania, but other pests can be powder post beetles or carpenter bees.
 
A WDI inspection is often referred to as a pest inspection, but this is a mis-nomer. Most people associate pests with rodents, stinging insects or intrusive nesting birds. In fact a WDI inspection will not include comment about such infestations.
 
An inspector may comments on these other pests, but inspecting, searching for and /or identifying such pests are not normally a part of a home inspection or WDI inspection, and comment should not be expected.
 
Septic Dye Test: A septic dye test is performed to determine if a septic system is overflowing into nearby streams or adjacent property.
 
A septic dye test is not a functionality test. Passing a septic test does not guarantee a system will work properly. More extensive septic testing should be performed by a qualified plumber or septic professional.
 
Septic systems should be pumped at least every two years. More often for larger families and /or smaller tank systems.
Radon measurement: Radon is a noble gas that is breathed into a persons lungs. Radon gas is everywhere. Long term exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. Aproximately 21,000 people die every yer from Radon exposure, and a smoker living in a house with high radon lavels is five times more likely to get cancer then other smokers.
 
Pennsylvania tends to have higher than normal levels of radon gas. Though the problems gets worse in the central part of the state, Western Pennsylvania is still known for higher than average levels.
 
A radon measurement test is a two day test. A testing unit is placed at the house during a normal home inspection and then retrieved two days later. Closed house conditions are maintained twelve hours before the test and also during the test. Testing units are then collected and sent to a lab and results obtained within forty-eight hours.
 
According to PA-DEP standards, houses with levels exceeding 4pC/l of Radon are to be remediated, though some buyers prefer to retest with a more accurate six month test.
 
Remediation usually costs between $700 to $1,200 depending upon what needs to be done.
 
Condominium Inspections: Just like there is no perfect home, there is also no perfect condo or apartment. A complete inspection of all available systems. Row houses sharing common walls are considered and priced for inspection like a home, even if they are called and purchased like a condominium.
 
Large Home Inspections: An additional fee of $50.00 is charged for larger homes over 2,500 square feet. Why? Its a cliche, but its true. Time is money, and larger homes take longer to inspect. Larger homes commonly have more and larger rooms, more bathrooms, larger more complicated heating and cooling systems, as well as additional supplemental heating and cooling systems.
 
Larger homes are also more likely to have extensive decks, larger multi car garages, and more extensive retaining wall systems. Larger homes tend to be more extensively landscaped. Though we do not inspect landscaping, it can often be in the way of what we do inspect.
 
A larger home may not have all of these additional structures or systems to comment on, but not having any of them would be rare. Inspecting a larger home can take up to an additional hour of time.
The Finial Promise comes with every inspection. We want to be your building inspection firm for life. We will come back to visit your newly purchased and previously inspected home for a free visit within a year after its initial inspection for a verbal reinspect of any two systems of concern.
 
Telephone consultation is free to any previous client - forever.